Tanning apparatus



A. S. JONES TANNING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1950 v INVENTOR. FI. s JUNSZ ATTORNEY July 7, 1931.

Patented July 7, 1931 UNETED STATES ADRIAN S. JONES, OF REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA TANNING APPABATUS Application filed January 20, 1930. Serial No. 422,183.

This invention relates to improvements in hide tanning apparatus.

The principal object of this invention is to produce an apparatus wherein hides may E be tanned more rapidly than is now possible to do.

Another object is to produce a device wherein the hide being tanned will be so moved to keep the pores of the hide open and give a much better tanning.

A further object is to produce a device which is extremely simple in Construction and therefore economical to manufacture.

A still further object is to produce a device wherein a minimum amount of handling of hides is necessary.

Other objects .and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. y

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure I is a side elevation of my device as the same would appear when placed within a tanning tank, which is shown in cross section, and

Figure II is a side elevation of my device as the same would appear looking from the end of the tank, which is shown in cross section.

The old system of tanning leather requires a period of several months as the hides were laid within atank, tan bark laid therebetween 33 and after the vat was full of hides, tanning liquor was placed therein to a depth sufiicient to cover the hides. After the liquor lost its strength it was necessary to take the hides out and place new tanning bark therebetween, which process required a large amount of handling and would not result in a uniform tanning process.

Applicant .has therefore devised a process wherein the hides are hung upon racks and immersed in tanning liquor after which the hides are agitated in such a way that they will be worked thereby keeping the pores open and causing tanning liquor to penetrate the hide. a In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a tank or vat of any suitable form which tanks are common to tanning processes. Within this tank is pivoted as at6 a rectangular frane 7. 'This frame is rocked through the medium of a link 8 eccentrically connected to a rotating member 9. The frame 7 carries a cross piece 11 Secured thereto ?at a point adjacent the pivots 6. Carried upon the upper surface of the frame 7 are pins 12 from which the hides 13 are hung. Secured to the cross piece 11 are a plurality of slats 14 which slats are joined at the bottom by a cross piece 16 and near their center parts by wedge pieces 17 and 18.

A wedge 19 is mounted upon the lower eXtremity of rods 21 and 22, which eXtend upwardly through cross piecesll and are treated so that the wedge 19 may be drawn upwardly against the wedges 17 and 18 thus expanding the slats 14: as shown in Figure I. This expanding operation only takes place after all of the hides have been hung upon the. rack.

i Now assuming that the rotary member 9 i is actuated it will be apparent that the frame 7 will rock upon its pivots 6 and that the hides will first assume a vertical position as shown to the left of the drawing, while the ones to the right of the drawing will be moved into a curved position by the action of the slats 14. WVhen the frame moves to its other limit or reciprocation the hides to the right of the frame will hang vertically while the hides to the left of the frame will be curved. At the same time the liquor will rise due to the action of the slats and leather, likewise when the frane reverses. This acton and tanning liquor are most effective when the liquor is at its height. Thus it is apparent that a working action takes place, which action will perform all the objects above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferrecl example of the same andthat various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of part s may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my nvention, I claimz l. In zt tanning apparatus, a tank adapted to hold a, tanning liquor, a `frame mounted within said tenk, means for reciprocating said frame and an expansion member suspended from said frame for the purpose specified.

2. In a tanning apparatus, a tank adapted to hold a tanning liquor, a` frame mounted within said tank, means for reciprocating said frame, an eXpansion member Suspended from said treme, said expansion member comprising a plurality of slats, and means for eXpanding said slats away `froneach other for the purpose specified.

3. In a device of the character described, a tank, a frame adapted to be reciprocated in said tenk, means for suspending hides from said frame, a spacer adapted to lie between the hides on the opposite sides of the pivot,

and means for eXpa-nding said spacer, said means comprsing wedge members adapted to be moved against each other for the purposespeced.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ADRIAN S. JONES. 

